Probably the most dangerous waste currently found in Germany is nuclear waste. Endless are the political discussions revolving around the search for a suitable repository. They show one thing above all:

​There is no suitable repository for nuclear waste because this is in any case highly dangerous and extremely durable. Anyone who wants to give a clear signal against nuclear power and wants to banish it from the German power mix in the long term should switch to green electricity.

With the prejudice that green electricity is too expensive, this article clears up. Here you can find information about how the power mix of the individual eco-electricity providers is really made up and what makes good green electricity.

Tip 2: Cloth bags instead of plastic bags

Around 1 trillion plastic bags are used around the world each year - and thrown away. The growing plastic garbage is an ever-increasing burden on the environment, also because only a few of these trillions of bags are recycled. Without environmentally friendly recycling, the disintegration of a plastic bag takes 100 to 500 years.

You can avoid a lot of rubbish by doing without plastic bags. Just bring your own cloth bag or a shopping basket with you for shopping and refrain from the use of plastic bags.

Tip 3: Recycling instead of throwing away

A lot of waste can be avoided by recycling it. Recycling is the recycling of a waste product. So it is important in everyday life, for example, to separate the garbage so that it can be recycled. Also, old electrical appliances and Co. should be brought to a local recycling yard. This ensures that all recyclable components can be reused.

For example, cell phones can be handed in at handysfuerdieumwelt.de and can be recycled by the German Environmental Aid. The proceeds from the recycled materials will benefit domestic nature conservation projects.

Tip 4: Upcycling instead of downcycling

Upcycling, like recycling, is a way of avoiding waste by reusing it. The difference, however, is that during upcycling, the supposed garbage is upgraded - that is, upcycled. So you can convert old wine crates to a cupboard or transform plastic bottles into a flower pot. Many good and creative upcycling ideas can be found, for example, on different thinking, in second life or in this upcycling community.

Tip 5: Tap water instead of plastic bottles

Despite pledge and a nearly complete return rate, the recycling of PET bottles is not flawless. Only about half of the recycled plastic bottles are good enough to make new bottles. Large parts of the shredded plastic are exported to China, which does not make the carbon footprint of the bottles any better. Who wants to avoid this plastic waste, which should rely on the domestic tap water.

This regularly receives top marks and can be drunk without hesitation. Meanwhile, there are plenty of alternatives to bring his tap water to bubbling and present handsome, for example, with the SodaStream , Soul Bottles or the Water Bobble.

Tip 6: Reusable packaging instead of aluminum foil

If you want to do away with unnecessary garbage in everyday life, you should opt for reusable packaging instead of disposable packaging. So you should not take aluminum foil or bread paper for the bread but for example, the good old Tupperdose. Those who find Tupperware too unwieldy can fall back on the likewise low-waste alternatives from Roll Eat - foldable bread packages that can be washed in the dishwasher. Even better are, of course, lunch boxes without plastic, such as the ajaa! ,

Tip 7: No packaging in the packaging

One can also avoid garbage by paying attention to buying products with little packaging when shopping. So less packaging in the packaging. Especially sweets are often offered triple packaged. Even XXL packages are usually provided with several layers of packaging.

For example, there is little packaging for fresh products such as fruit and vegetables or at the refrigerated counter.

Tip 8: Better to share than to buy everything alone

New German also called "Collaborative Consumption", ie the collective consumption. The idea behind it: Not everyone has to own everything, much better can be shared. What can be shared? Actually everything. There are now numerous car-sharing initiatives, such as the neighborhood car.

But other household goods, such as drill, lawnmower, and Co can be shared wonderfully. For example, allenachbarn.de offers a sharing platform. Less newly purchased means, in the end, more garbage avoided.

Tip 9: Sell old equipment

If you want to get rid of a few old electronic devices, you should not throw them in the trash. There are many points of contact that still use working electrical appliances. Meanwhile, Rebuy.de is very well known. Other platforms are flip4new.de, also where you get cash for his old device or the NGO labdoo.org, where you can donate his device. So why turn something into the garbage that is not yet one?

Tip 10: Quality instead of quantity

For all consumer goods in general: Quality pays off, because of these, whether TV, smartphone or shoe, last much longer. If you pay attention to quality when shopping, you can avoid a lot of garbage and save money for a necessary new purchase.

Another reason for good quality, repairs are usually not worth it for cheap items and so they are simply thrown in the trash.

Tip 11: Glass instead of cups in the supermarket

Glass has a decisive advantage over plastic cups: it can be melted down and recycled as often as you like. Around 60% are used every time. That's why you should use glass instead of plastic where there are alternatives. In the refrigerated shelves, yogurt is usually available in reusable glasses and not only in plastic cups.

Even less often you can find milk in glass bottles. Even sauces such as ketchup and Co. are also available in a glass version.

Tip 12: Coffe to go in your own cup

Coffee to go - yes! But please in your own cup and not in the plastic cup that lands directly in the garbage. Tip for avoiding waste: simply buy your own coffee to go cup and fill it in the morning or in the cafeteria with the black elixir of life. There are enough alternatives to the disposable cup on the market, eg the DCI Eco Cup, Klean Kanteen or SIGG.

Tip 13: Swap instead of buy

The motto for avoiding waste is swap more, buy less. You can exchange everything, from books, clothes to games already played. Because let's be honest, after the book or the game is through, it comes in the corner and we probably never brought out again, until it ends up in the garbage.

Anyone who returns his old belongings to the cycle of consumption also prevents new purchases, which also end up in the garbage. In the net, there are numerous exchange platforms, for clothing the gadgets, books and electrical appliances can be exchanged on tauschicket.de or Netcycler.

A good way to exchange books in the real world is through regional bookshelves. Here you can see if there is a bookshelf in your area located.

Tip 14: Printless

Become a paper saver and avoid garbage. It is best to think twice before each print if it is really necessary. The fact is that paper consumption is growing rapidly despite increasing digitization.

According to the WWF, forest areas the size of 500 football fields are destroyed per hour worldwide for the production of paper products. Reason enough to produce less paper and to do the environment a great favor.

Tip 15: Refill instead of buying new

Above all, sanitary and hygiene items are also offered in refill packs. Avoid garbage by not buying a new soap dispenser every time, just refill the old one.